This article describes our government at work in it's full glory! This stuff is happening every day throughout our government. No agency, department, branch, etc, dares not save money and not spend all of their budgeted dollars. $600 toilet seats are happening everywhere in our government!

"...and subsequently the CIO was not just fired but also stripped naked, flogged publicly (with computer mice), and had his/her assets seized and liquidated to help mitigate the damage." That's the part of the story they forgot to post, right? Right?!

Economic Development. They are in charge of US Economic Development????

No wonder we are still in a recession!!!!

The EDA was simply doing their part to inject some purchasing into the economy. They destroyed the computers in order to stimulate an economic recovery from the purchase of the new ones...geesh, why is this so hard to understand? /s

"...and subsequently the CIO was not just fired but also stripped naked, flogged publicly (with computer mice), and had his/her assets seized and liquidated to help mitigate the damage." That's the part of the story they forgot to post, right? Right?!

A story like this sure does bring out all the vitriolic anti-government, anti-union sentiment -- and, as usual, that sentiment is bolstered by a great deal of statistically insignificant anecdotal evidence.

It's a shame that we've fallen so far from the society we were in the first half of the 20th Century, before our healthy reservoirs of naturally-occurring anti-authoritarian, anti-systemic public mistrust had not been shrewdly deflected away from mistrust of plutocrats and industrial interests and onto public servants.

While it may be an overreaction on the part of the EDA, it's also an oversimplification by detractors to dismiss the disposal of mice as an example of absurdity.

Mice can be malware vectors too if they have preloaded USB flash memory surreptitiously inserted.

This is reasonable.(as is any usb device or driver)

But $800K in contractor fees?Entire workstations being destroyed (instead of simply formatted and reimaged)?$2.7 million total for cleanup?And it took a year to recover?

Even if it was a very large department with 1,000s of workstations, I could understand the cost but not the time scale to recover.Even then, laughing at a government agency for *destroying* electronic equipment instead of reimaging is our right as taxpayers since we ultimately bought that equipment and not an "over simplification".

If anything, we should be banging on someone's door at that department and checking on the status of that CIO's resignation for such an incredibly ignorant and wasteful response..

If this was the response I used to handle a malware threat at where I work, i'd be the fastest unemployed IT guy in history.

[quote="[url=http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?p=24862721#p24862721]Why are you equating being profit-driven with immorality? Trying to make money, whether you're an individual or a corporation doesn't make you immoral.

No but incorporated entities are almost by definition amoral. Whether or not they act immoral then only depends on the circumstances. Of course since being amoral is what they are supposed to be, perhaps you can't even claim them to ever be immoral, they just are what they are.

So, I feel like people are going to call me stupid for this, but...in an episode of Burn Notice, Michael was able to install a worm into a sensitive system (without arousing suspicion) by replacing his USB mouse with a tampered one. It may be a TV show, but the way I see it there's no reason that wouldn't make sense.

There's no indication that this virus was spread via physical presence, but still. Maybe, just maybe, we're the ones who don't understand the phrase "take no chances".

Jordon Orlando: Who, pray tell, is to protect us from big government? The Stalins, Maos, Castros, and Hitlers of the world? The Pol Pots?

Because they sure taxed the rich to fund schools, roads, etc. And just ask them: it was all for the benefit of the citizenry. They were just making society function better. Even if it took removing the "undesirables" it was only to make life better for the proletariat. And citizen, if you didn't like it, well, we have free government housing and guaranteed work for life! It's healthy, too--chopping trees in Siberia works the muscles. Good weight loss program, and we will even relieve your relatives of the cost of a burial. What's not to like? How could anyone want to leave the workers paradise? Though, Mao made sure the widow paid for the cost of the bullet.

Jordon Orlando: Who, pray tell, is to protect us from big government? The Stalins, Maos, Castros, and Hitlers of the world? The Pol Pots?

Because they sure taxed the rich to fund schools, roads, etc. And just ask them: it was all for the benefit of the citizenry. They were just making society function better. Even if it took removing the "undesirables" it was only to make life better for the proletariat. And citizen, if you didn't like it, well, we have free government housing and guaranteed work for life! It's healthy, too--chopping trees in Siberia works the muscles. Good weight loss program, and we will even relieve your relatives of the cost of a burial. What's not to like? How could anyone want to leave the workers paradise? Though, Mao made sure the widow paid for the cost of the bullet.

At least Verizon won't throw me in jail if I disagree with them.

And who in turn will protect us from private industry's willingness to pollute public air and waterways; disregard the healthcare, age, and safe working conditions of their employees; fudge papers to sell your house out from under you; you know, things that have demonstrably happened without the presence of a strong government willing to step in to protect its citizens.

Because they sure taxed the rich to fund schools, roads, etc. And just ask them: it was all for the benefit of the citizenry. They were just making society function better. Even if it took removing the "undesirables" it was only to make life better for the proletariat. And citizen, if you didn't like it, well, we have free government housing and guaranteed work for life! It's healthy, too--chopping trees in Siberia works the muscles. Good weight loss program, and we will even relieve your relatives of the cost of a burial. What's not to like? How could anyone want to leave the workers paradise? Though, Mao made sure the widow paid for the cost of the bullet.At least Verizon won't throw me in jail if I disagree with them.

And neither will Obama. Respectfully, you're not thinking very clearly. Totalitarian scare images don't alter the correctness of my point about self-government and about the value of public vs. private institutions.

Jordon Orlando: Who, pray tell, is to protect us from big government? The Stalins, Maos, Castros, and Hitlers of the world? The Pol Pots?

Because they sure taxed the rich to fund schools, roads, etc. And just ask them: it was all for the benefit of the citizenry. They were just making society function better. Even if it took removing the "undesirables" it was only to make life better for the proletariat. And citizen, if you didn't like it, well, we have free government housing and guaranteed work for life! It's healthy, too--chopping trees in Siberia works the muscles. Good weight loss program, and we will even relieve your relatives of the cost of a burial. What's not to like? How could anyone want to leave the workers paradise? Though, Mao made sure the widow paid for the cost of the bullet.

At least Verizon won't throw me in jail if I disagree with them.

Hitler was backed and helped to power by the large industrialists. When he wanted a gas chamber built, he contracted it out. When big business wanted factory workers Hitler provided forced labor.

Jordon Orlando: Who, pray tell, is to protect us from big government? The Stalins, Maos, Castros, and Hitlers of the world? The Pol Pots?

Because they sure taxed the rich to fund schools, roads, etc. And just ask them: it was all for the benefit of the citizenry. They were just making society function better. Even if it took removing the "undesirables" it was only to make life better for the proletariat. And citizen, if you didn't like it, well, we have free government housing and guaranteed work for life! It's healthy, too--chopping trees in Siberia works the muscles. Good weight loss program, and we will even relieve your relatives of the cost of a burial. What's not to like? How could anyone want to leave the workers paradise? Though, Mao made sure the widow paid for the cost of the bullet.

At least Verizon won't throw me in jail if I disagree with them.

Hitler was backed and helped to power by the large industrialists. When he wanted a gas chamber built, he contracted it out. When big business wanted factory workers Hitler provided forced labor.

Exactly. Throughout the 1930s, the biggest boost to Nazism was widespread fear of labor unions (which represented "Bolshevism.") It's the same capital vs. labor battle in every industrialized nation during those decades. "Business" is always the same amoral threat to "the people" (as we more enlightened commenters here have been saying over and over)

Let me point out that despite the people mocking the government at this, this case is a pretty good argument for centralised government. Why? Because the critical line in this story is:

Quote:

The NOAA isolated and cleaned up the problem within a few weeks.

In other works, the government *had* people who understood the issue. The problem was that these smart IT staff weren't shared across departments. The NOAA sorted stuff out in house, but the mistake of the EDA was that they didn't go to the NOAA, they didn't have competent long term IT personel, but in the full spirit of joyous public-private partnership, decided to outsource their solution to a private contractor who not only ripped them off (costing much more than the headline of destroyed equipment), but also gave them shitty and insufficient advice that cost them even more money.

The solution here is for the government to either employ people in house to sort this sort of stuff out, or to have a shared IT support pool to exchange expertise and tackle training. People scream and shout 'simplify government', but this is exactly what too small a government looks like - a corrupt inefficient mess. Moan (inaccurately) about Obamacare, but the current private health insurance debacle is literally the same thing as this 800k security outsource debacle, but larger, and happening ALL THE TIME.

And who in turn will protect us from private industry's willingness to pollute public air and waterways; disregard the healthcare, age, and safe working conditions of their employees; fudge papers to sell your house out from under you; you know, things that have demonstrably happened without the presence of a strong government willing to step in to protect its citizens.

I would kindly cite you to the environmental record of the Soviet Union, Communist China, Pol Pot's regime, and the paradise known as Cuba. Venezuala.

Power corrupts. Governmental power corrupts most of all. I find it amusing that the leftwing places their faith in an institution that there is no recourse from.

I disagree that a strong government is willing to step in to protect its citizens. It CAN, yes.... but which citizens? What happens when they don't act impartially? What recourse is there? Especially when you have a media in lockstep agreement with the government. Just look at Obama's scandals. The common theme: relentless abuse of government in favor of partisan politics. He views half of America--the half that did not vote for him -- as his enemies. I don't have to deal with AT&T. I can't escape the IRS.

And its the government that wants to steal my property. Even Apple, with their famously high prices and gouging of their customers, doesn't feel entitled to 50 percent of my income like government does. And Apple won't toss me in jail if I don't feel like paying them.

As far as large corporations go, they have their own issues. But a "strong governmental hand" is not necessary.

Government is not an impartial, beneficial abstract. It's full of petty people, idiots like the guy in this instant story who will never be punished for colossal waste (and what about the environmental impact of all this waste?) There's never been an institution that is more designed for fraud, waste, and abuse as increasingly powerful government that is in your face, your life, and where you must get permission to do anything. The Soviet Union was a place where waste ruled the day.

There's no accountability with government--none. None practical, anyway. If Obama likes you, that's it. Nothing will happen to you, even when you are grossly incompetent at best, like Eric Holder. And if you are a crook on Obama's good side? Do what you want. If your vision of good government is ever to be realized, you must--MUST--get meaningful accountability at all levels; and strip the reasons to ever aggregate power, and the opportunities power provides for waste, corruption and abuse.

End the civil service. Destroy the public service unions. Just look at what Argent posted above on what you have to do to terminate someone: minimum 2 YEARS. That's supposed to be good? You want to complain about big corporations when the government has no restraints?

Apple, one of the worlds biggest companies, could handle California's budget for one year. The size of government far, FAR outstrips the size and potential damage corporations can do.

I will note that there appears to be a sizable contingent of posters who downvote anyone who dares to speak the heresy that government shouldn't be your god.

And who in turn will protect us from private industry's willingness to pollute public air and waterways; disregard the healthcare, age, and safe working conditions of their employees; fudge papers to sell your house out from under you; you know, things that have demonstrably happened without the presence of a strong government willing to step in to protect its citizens.

I would kindly cite you to the environmental record of the Soviet Union, Communist China, Pol Pot's regime, and the paradise known as Cuba. Venezuala.

Power corrupts. Governmental power corrupts most of all. I find it amusing that the leftwing places their faith in an institution that there is no recourse from.

I disagree that a strong government is willing to step in to protect its citizens. It CAN, yes.... but which citizens? What happens when they don't act impartially? What recourse is there? Especially when you have a media in lockstep agreement with the government. Just look at Obama's scandals. The common theme: relentless abuse of government in favor of partisan politics. He views half of America--the half that did not vote for him -- as his enemies. I don't have to deal with AT&T. I can't escape the IRS.

And its the government that wants to steal my property. Even Apple, with their famously high prices and gouging of their customers, doesn't feel entitled to 50 percent of my income like government does. And Apple won't toss me in jail if I don't feel like paying them.

As far as large corporations go, they have their own issues. But a "strong governmental hand" is not necessary.

Government is not an impartial, beneficial abstract. It's full of petty people, idiots like the guy in this instant story who will never be punished for colossal waste (and what about the environmental impact of all this waste?) There's never been an institution that is more designed for fraud, waste, and abuse as increasingly powerful government that is in your face, your life, and where you must get permission to do anything. The Soviet Union was a place where waste ruled the day.

There's no accountability with government--none. None practical, anyway. If Obama likes you, that's it. Nothing will happen to you, even when you are grossly incompetent at best, like Eric Holder. And if you are a crook on Obama's good side? Do what you want. If your vision of good government is ever to be realized, you must--MUST--get meaningful accountability at all levels; and strip the reasons to ever aggregate power, and the opportunities power provides for waste, corruption and abuse.

End the civil service. Destroy the public service unions. Just look at what Argent posted above on what you have to do to terminate someone: minimum 2 YEARS. That's supposed to be good? You want to complain about big corporations when the government has no restraints?

Apple, one of the worlds biggest companies, could handle California's budget for one year. The size of government far, FAR outstrips the size and potential damage corporations can do.

I will note that there appears to be a sizable contingent of posters who downvote anyone who dares to speak the heresy that government shouldn't be your god.

First of all, the downvotes are de rigueur -- they just connote disagreement. Don't take it personally.

Second, respectfully, you're using a caricature of the left wing position. We're not stupid or blind; we can see how any system can be gamed; any powerful institution can be corrupted; any "well meaning" entity can, over time, go disastrously (even murderously) astray. The progressive position is based 1) on the idea (which I wrote above and then quoted later; I don't want to hubristically quote myself yet again) that institutions at least nominally dedicated to the public good can be trusted more than institutions based on profit (which is an intrinsically amoral armature) and 2) that the referenda of democratic government is fundamentally preferable than the toothless referenda of "the marketplace" (or "the stockholders") in keeping things on the level.

I am not a socialist; I am an ardent capitalist, but I understand that "competition" can't solve all problems -- you can't expect "the market" to do the job of the FDA or the FCC, for example. I also distrust all pro-business and anti-government rhetoric because it tends to be sophistry; arguments created to justify greed or to excuse societal economic unfairness. Obviously governments turn bad, but fixing bad governments is preferable to fixing bad corporate interests; I don't trust the congress as much as ExxonMobil, and, now that I trust the congress less than I did 20 years ago, I recognize that the worsening problem is because of ExxonMobil (and Verizon and GE and all the other big players) having a greater and greater stranglehold on the congress itself.

Yes, every system can be gamed, which is why the underlying ideology ultimately becomes important again. Progressivism 101.

More to the point: why do I need governmental interference in every single aspect of my life? Every bit of my economic activity is affected by, at minimum, the taxes. Let alone OSHA, the EPA, DHS, and practically every other three letter acronymn.

My leisure is full of the FBI tracking me to see if I'm pirating, the government reading my emails (and snail mail, too) and browsing habits with PRISM. If I'm a conservative, I apparently get to have government in my grill on everything.

My health? Forget it--I have to kill an entire tree to comply with the paperwork dictated by the government both to me and to the insurance companies.

Education? Try to do anything with schooling without having to deal with the government almost every day.

My faith? Now the government wants to tax my church and my faith (or at least the leftists do, which is the same thing). In Europe, my church has far less rights than in America... for now. Leftists want to dictate who my faith can and cannot hire, and what they should be paid.

My food? Just ask Mayor "Nanny" Bloomberg about a 64 ounce big gulp. I can't even grow my own food and save the seeds anymore to grow next year.

My family? Well, I had to adopt my kids. Do you have any idea of how much governmental red tape is involved? And that is something government wants to promote!

Media? Well, right now we have joined at the hip the major media and the Democrat party in the US. It's a sad, but true fact that if you want to see what's happening in America you either have to watch Fox News or go overseas to the British media, who still remember they are journalists and not propagandists, for the most part.

Is there a significant area of my life I don't have to bow and make obeisance to my governmental overlords in some fashion? And you leftists think that this is a good thing, of course, and life would only be better if we give some faceless, nameless, unionized, unaccountable, impossible to fire bureaucrat more power to decide what I need or want or what is good for me.

No, I don't see how big corporations could possibly affect me more than big government. All the fears of big corporations need to have big government behind them to back them up and so forth.

Jordon, you posted after I wrote the above.

I would love to see how "Progressivism" would "fix" a corrupt government. Because historically, worshiping big government means only one thing: bloodshed. Government has the power of life and death, and without fail it uses that.

Corporations wouldn't try to influence the government so much if the government didn't have so much power to pick winners and losers. When your business depends on whether Congress will pass a bill allowing or disallowing your business practice that year.... well, you lobby. You have to.

It all depends on who you trust. Do you trust the FDA? How about the W3C? One's governmental, one's not. Which does a better job? Who's more politicized? Do you trust Homeland Security? How about the IRS? I"m a conservative, and this post will no doubt increase my "undesirable" points on some governmental list. When I go to the doctor under obamacare, will I be told there's not enough resources and tough luck? While you, as a progressive, get to go to the front of the line? If Verizon does that to me, I can go somewhere else. I can't with government. Unless I move to a different country, but there aren't many countries left where individual liberty is valued.

That's ultimately the problem with big corporations AND big government: they don't care about you. You are a cog, a wheel, just a number. At least big corporations flounder if their customers perceive that they are just a number. What does the drone at the drivers license division care if he messes up my application for 8 months?

Government is a monopoly of the highest degree. The worst forms of corporate abuses occur in government in spades. And the only accountability we have is what? To vote once every 2 years, for someone who the media will lie about in order to get their preferred candidate elected? Some accountability.

Edited to add:To "fix" a corrupt corporation is a whole lot easier than to fix a government who views you as the enemy. Which, currently, my government does. I guarantee that the current American Administration is more worried about conservatives and the "Tea Party" than they worry about North Korea, Iran, or outside threats. And that is worrisome. What do you progressives recommend is the proper course of action when your government is treating you as an enemy?

And who in turn will protect us from private industry's willingness to pollute public air and waterways; disregard the healthcare, age, and safe working conditions of their employees; fudge papers to sell your house out from under you; you know, things that have demonstrably happened without the presence of a strong government willing to step in to protect its citizens.

I would kindly cite you to the environmental record of the Soviet Union, Communist China, Pol Pot's regime, and the paradise known as Cuba. Venezuala.

Power corrupts. Governmental power corrupts most of all. I find it amusing that the leftwing places their faith in an institution that there is no recourse from.

I disagree that a strong government is willing to step in to protect its citizens. It CAN, yes.... but which citizens? What happens when they don't act impartially? What recourse is there? Especially when you have a media in lockstep agreement with the government. Just look at Obama's scandals. The common theme: relentless abuse of government in favor of partisan politics. He views half of America--the half that did not vote for him -- as his enemies. I don't have to deal with AT&T. I can't escape the IRS.

And its the government that wants to steal my property. Even Apple, with their famously high prices and gouging of their customers, doesn't feel entitled to 50 percent of my income like government does. And Apple won't toss me in jail if I don't feel like paying them.

As far as large corporations go, they have their own issues. But a "strong governmental hand" is not necessary.

Government is not an impartial, beneficial abstract. It's full of petty people, idiots like the guy in this instant story who will never be punished for colossal waste (and what about the environmental impact of all this waste?) There's never been an institution that is more designed for fraud, waste, and abuse as increasingly powerful government that is in your face, your life, and where you must get permission to do anything. The Soviet Union was a place where waste ruled the day.

There's no accountability with government--none. None practical, anyway. If Obama likes you, that's it. Nothing will happen to you, even when you are grossly incompetent at best, like Eric Holder. And if you are a crook on Obama's good side? Do what you want. If your vision of good government is ever to be realized, you must--MUST--get meaningful accountability at all levels; and strip the reasons to ever aggregate power, and the opportunities power provides for waste, corruption and abuse.

End the civil service. Destroy the public service unions. Just look at what Argent posted above on what you have to do to terminate someone: minimum 2 YEARS. That's supposed to be good? You want to complain about big corporations when the government has no restraints?

Apple, one of the worlds biggest companies, could handle California's budget for one year. The size of government far, FAR outstrips the size and potential damage corporations can do.

I will note that there appears to be a sizable contingent of posters who downvote anyone who dares to speak the heresy that government shouldn't be your god.

The problem with that premis is that the nation state is the most powerful influence in our lives. That is not always true. Indeed, it is definitively untrue in weak nation states because other parties can fill the power void (e.g. including but not limited to large businesses and organized crime).

Even though I have strong anti-nationalist sentiments, I would far prefer a strong nation state. The reason is simple enough: citizens have some control over government entities, as outlined in our nations' respective constitutions. Citizens rarely have control over non-government entities, particularly if they don't have the influence or monetary resources to play that game.

Our constitution is eroding away while everyone is drinking Obama's gun and NSA kool-aid. Exercising your right to remain silent is now and admission of guilt for god's sake. Churches are selectively loosing their nonprofit status. Not that I'm religious or anything but the trend is clear. The constitution is being ousted. The only civil rights activity today that's enjoying much success is gay rights (and good on them for that, btw).

Were you equally outraged when Bush etc. were railroading the Patriot Act through?

Why do you think I wasn't? You think I can't disapprove of Bush and Obama at the same time? Fucking up in the oval office is a bipartisan effort. Bush is the past and Obama is the present. Bush was a bumbling idiot and Obama is a fucking liar who abuses the office (side of IRS anyone?).

Both are fucking bad and it's hardly worth the effort you'd spend on deciding which one is "better" as a definitive absolute (as if there were such a thing).

EDA's CIO, the idiot at the center of this maelstrom of idiocy, will likely not be punished for gross incompetence.

That's our government in action.

I was about to say something very similar. Finding bureaucrats to out fellow bureaucrats is like trying to find one doctor to testify against another in a malpractice case. But, I mean, gosh...it's not *their* property, is it? Why should they care if it's managed appropriately and intelligently? There's plenty more where that came from, right? [sarcasm extraordinaire.]

EDA's CIO, the idiot at the center of this maelstrom of idiocy, will likely not be punished for gross incompetence.

That's our government in action.

I was about to say something very similar. Finding bureaucrats to out fellow bureaucrats is like trying to find one doctor to testify against another in a malpractice case. But, I mean, gosh...it's not *their* property, is it? Why should they care if it's managed appropriately and intelligently? There's plenty more where that came from, right? [sarcasm extraordinaire.]

This would have been a better point if this incident hadn't been brought to light by "fellow bureaucrats."

The problem with that premis is that the nation state is the most powerful influence in our lives. That is not always true. Indeed, it is definitively untrue in weak nation states because other parties can fill the power void (e.g. including but not limited to large businesses and organized crime).

Even though I have strong anti-nationalist sentiments, I would far prefer a strong nation state. The reason is simple enough: citizens have some control over government entities, as outlined in our nations' respective constitutions. Citizens rarely have control over non-government entities, particularly if they don't have the influence or monetary resources to play that game.

Our constitution is eroding away while everyone is drinking Obama's gun and NSA kool-aid. Exercising your right to remain silent is now and admission of guilt for god's sake. Churches are selectively loosing their nonprofit status. Not that I'm religious or anything but the trend is clear. The constitution is being ousted. The only civil rights activity today that's enjoying much success is gay rights (and good on them for that, btw).

Were you equally outraged when Bush etc. were railroading the Patriot Act through?

Why do you think I wasn't? You think I can't disapprove of Bush and Obama at the same time? Fucking up in the oval office is a bipartisan effort. Bush is the past and Obama is the present. Bush was a bumbling idiot and Obama is a fucking liar who abuses the office (side of IRS anyone?).

Both are fucking bad and it's hardly worth the effort you'd spend on deciding which one is "better" as a definitive absolute (as if there were such a thing).

The movie, Idiocracy, reminds me of Marshal Mcluhan's reply to those who wanted to know how he did such an amazing job of predicting future trends -- he wasn't "making predictions", but merely describing phenomena which he already saw occurring in plain sight all around him.